Petronas wins four awards at IChemE Malaysia ceremony

PETRONAS won four of eight awards at IChemE’s Malaysia Awards ceremony, which was held virtually yesterday evening.

Petronas Research, Deakin University and University of Adelaide, Australia won the Oil and Gas Award for their project Metal Organic Framework as Self-healing Catalyst. They developed a novel self-healing epoxy that is added to the interior of steel pipes in oil field operations. They estimate it could reduce total maintenance costs by up to 80%.

Petronas also won the Process Safety Award. The state oil firm’s subsidiary Petronas Penapisan, which operates the Kertih Refinery in Terengganu, Malaysia, developed a smart ratchet which reduces the number of needle valve replacements required during sampling activities.

Petronas Penapisan (Terengganu) also won the Training and Development Award for its educational work. Its interactive auditorium helps share lessons learned with staff and raise awareness within the local community.

The company won the Sustainability Award for a new model that significantly optimises plant steam usage, saving 58,256 GJ of fuel, equivalent to saving RM1.94m (US$0.48m), and producing less carbon emissions.

Sumwin Solutions took home the Palm Oil Award for its new patented technology and process to reduce the levels of a potentially harmful chemical compound from palm oil to fully meet European standards, enabling edible products to be marketed successfully in European countries.

Xiamen University Malaysia’s student-led outreach activities won the Student Chapter Award. The programme enhances chemical engineering students’ technical knowledge and builds their leadership and teamworking skills.

Activities included experiencing food and palm oil processing through industrial site visits, and promoting sustainability to chemical engineering students at the IChemE Assemble – Think Sustainable event in March.

Xiamen University Malaysia lecturer Chew Kit Wayne won the Young Researcher Award for his research into bioprocess engineering design and renewable energy. His current focus is investigating the potential development of a biorefinery for microalgae, designing a multi-phase system that will produce bioproducts and bioenergy, while utilising its waste sources for a more efficient cultivation system.

Muhammad Faiz Bin Omar, a Distillation Technologist at the Malaysian Refining Company, won the Young Industrialist Award for his commitment and problem-solving skills. During the coronavirus pandemic he has increased the Malaysian Refining Company's crude oil processing capability by using lower-demand jet fuel kerosene to produce a profit of US$3m per month. In a previous role at Petronas Group Technical Solutions he saved the organisation RM20.9m per year by upgrading and optimising its energy systems.

A message from the Queen of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, the Royal Patron of IChemE Malaysia, was shown to finalists during the online ceremony. She said: “The 2020 IChemE Malaysia Awards ceremony takes place in the most unusual of circumstances. This year is proving to be one of the most trying times the world has faced in recent history. In spite of this, the ceremony carries on and I express my sincere thanks to the organising committee for their dedication and hard work to make it happen. It will indeed be an occasion to remember.

“To the finalist and winners of this prestigious IChemE Malaysia Awards, the stars of tonight – my congratulations! You bring credit to the profession. Continue your show of strength in times of adversity and keep up the good work.”

Law Chung Lim, Chair of IChemE’s Malaysian Board, said: “Congratulations to all of our winners tonight. This is recognition by your peers of the work you are doing day in, day out that demonstrates how you are helping to solve worldwide issues to advance chemical engineering’s contribution for the benefit of society.

Winners of the IChemE Malaysia Awards will automatically be entered into corresponding categories at the IChemE Global Awards, which will be delivered virtually through a series of webinars in November.